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10 of the Best Beauty Buys of November

Friday, December 02, 2016

I know November has been and gone, I also know I am a little behind in posting my must-try products of the last four weeks but better late than never. If you are looking for a little inspiration on what new-ish launches and well-love products you should be trying next, let me lend you a helping hand.

Estee Lauder Global Anti-Age Balm £46/50ml
I'm not overly sure how to define or label Estee Lauder Global Anti-Age Balm so I won't; what I will say is that if you are looking for a skin smoothing product that moisturises, protects and can double up as a primer this is what you should invest in next. Forget silicone loaded products and turn to this balm to gently nourish the skin, and optically blur enlarged pores and fine lines (it also photographs beautifully) - think of it as the Face Tune app but in product form.

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue £27/30ml (get 12% off with code GLITTER)
Forget heavy bases that feel suffocating and embrace this light, almost gel-like consistency that creates a flawless, picture perfect canvas regardless of how you apply it: sponge, beauty blender, fingertips or brush - it all works. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue gently glides onto the skin, blurring imperfections with a medium yet glow inducing level of coverage. If ever there was a product that can claim to be the perfect fit to the tag line "my skin but better", this is it.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal £30
For anyone who has ever struggled in finding a bold and obvious highlighter that doesn't look cakey, stark or harsh on the skin, the answer isBecca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal. This light, bronze-come-champagne hue not only suits the vast majority of complexions but as it is so finely milled and beyond pigmented, it is both a joy to wear and apply; there is no bulky shimmer particles to nestle into the pores, rather this soft powder delivers an almost metallic sheen to the skin that glimmers and dances in all forms of light.

Soap and Glory Love at First Blush Highlight and Cheek Stick£8
It's Winter (I think? I mean it's late November and my lounge is full of fairy lights so it must be Winter, right?) and along with my skin being dull and a little sallow, the dark mornings and lights are zapping every ounce of motivation I can muster up. As such it all but goes without speaking, a full highlight and contour routine is out of the question, luckily I own Soap and Glory Love at First Blush Highlight and Cheek Stick; this nifty, rose gold blush stick (a close dupe to NARS Orgasm Blush, adds both a flush of colour and shot of radiance to my skin, in two quick swipes - it is the ultimate lazy day product.

Illamasqua Round Buffing Brush (IL230) £26
As someone with fairly high cheekbones, contouring can be bizarrely tricky - hear me out with this one - as I don't technically want to sculpt that area of my face, rather I aim to add dimension. I don't want a tapered brush, I need something fairly round yet not oversized - weirdly something that isn't all that easily found within general face/cheek brushes. Luckily the Illamasqua Round Buffing Brush(IL230) exists and is pretty much the answer to my face shape woes; this well sized, super-soft, fluffy yet synthetic brush allows me to diffuse powder and cream blushes and bronzers without appearing super sculpted and harsh. Face shape woes aside, this is a great blending brush for face products: blush, highlight or bronzer, it does it all and with ease too.

Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara £9.99
It is rare that I find a mascara in which I can truly deem perfect - as someone with small eyes, flimsy straight eyelashes and easily irritated eyes, the perfect fit is often but a dream...well that was until I cracked open a tube of Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara. Typically speaking, I'm not a huge fan of moulded, plastic mascara wands but there is something magical about the shape and size of the Bourjois spoolie: for one it combs through the lashes ensuring there are no clumps but it also grips and all but stretches the eyelashes to their full potential. If that is not enough for you to add this to your shopping list, it is a blacker-than-black formulation that doesn't smudge, smear or flake -you need to try this.

Optrex 2-in-1 Eye Spray for Dry and Irritated Eyes £12.99
I'm not really sure what is wrong with my eyes at the moment - they are forever dry and very easily irritated. Perhaps I spend too long glued to my phone and laptop, and/or I'm just over-tired - whatever the issue is, all I know is that I have been reaching for it daily to quickly comfort my eyes. It's also nothing short of a miracle when travelling and the dry air all but sucks the moisture out of your eye socket. Try it and tell me you are not convinced from your first spritz of Optrex 2-in-1 Eye Spray for Dry and Irritated Eyes .

Maison Margila Replica Blur Filter £45/50ml
November was the month that I fully embraced the world of Maison Margiela Replica fragrances, in particularly the Blur Filter scent - it is soft, fresh and very comforting on a chilly day. I also rather appreciate that it is a dry oil rather than a typical liquid, meaning it wears far longer on my skin and is of course a little more moisturising than average. If you are looking for a fragrance to almost mimic the crisp, chilliness of a Winter morning try Maison Margila Replica Blur Filter.

Barry M Pink Lemonade Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint £3.99
I'm not a huge nail polish wearer so it takes one heck of a formula to convince me otherwise, on a whim I painted my nails with and I may just be converted to at home manicures once and for all. The pretty almost milkshake pink-come-nude hue of Barry M Pink Lemonade is perfect for everyday wear and the glossy finish is surprisingly long wearing; I'm pretty sure if I painted my toe nails with this duo it would survive the apocalypse...or at least be intact until early Spring.

Collection Velvet Kiss Moisturising Lip Cream £2.99
Matte liquid lipsticks are everywhere and as such you really don't really need to hand over ridiculous amounts of cash to find a great formulation. Admittedly theCollection Velvet Kiss Moisturising Lip Cream/s colour range is fairly basic (six shades in total) but the whipped, creamy texture glides on with ease and wears comfortable for at least three hours without smudging, flaking or bleeding. I should also mention that they have a super sweet vanilla fragrance that I can't get enough of.